Family Story
I discovered the power of the genogram while earning my Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy. A genogram is a hand-drawn family tree that uses symbols to represent the cast of characters in a client’s life. These symbols capture far more than names and dates; they reveal patterns of conflict and closeness, accomplishments and disappointments, secrets kept and stories silenced.
Genograms are a potent therapeutic tool because they help clients see their family systems. What was once fragmented or long forgotten becomes visible. In that process, clients often retell inherited stories with new insight, compassion, and agency.
Family Tree
Similarly, countless people have benefited from building their family trees through programs and websites such as Ancestry. I recently submitted my DNA to AncestryDNA. Looking back through history with this powerful tool was both grounding and empowering.
As an African American, I am acutely aware that traditional records and archives can only take me so far. Enslavement, displacement, and erasure created gaps that paper trails cannot always bridge. Since DNA sequencing has become accessible to the public, the sense of groundedness among African Americans has expanded dramatically—bringing with it new possibilities, curiosity, and connection.
Having access to my ancestral history offered me a richer sense of self. It did not replace my identity or suddenly define who I am, but it did reassure and validate me. It confirmed that my story did not begin in a vacuum; it is rooted in generations of resilience, survival, and legacy.
Family DNA
A family tree is much like a genogram—except you do not need a therapist to construct it. Yet the results can be just as powerful and profound. Both tools invite reflection. Both ask us to consider where we come from, what we carry forward, and what we may choose to release.
What story does your DNA tell? If you are ready to begin your journey of self-discovery, you can start with a DNA test using a discount link. And if you find yourself encountering painful or complex truths along the way, you do not have to walk that path alone. Make an appointment with us, and we will guide you—thoughtfully and compassionately—through every part of your journey.